Home nations set to fight it out for UEFA vice-presidency

UEFA's Congress on Thursday is expected to rubber-stamp new rules which will see its 54 members vote on the British FIFA vice-president from candidates put forward by England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

THE Scottish Football Association's decision to put forward a candidate for the FIFA vice-presidency has set up a battle between all four British home nations.

UEFA's Congress on Thursday is expected to rubber-stamp new rules which will see its 54 members vote on the British FIFA vice-president from candidates put forward by England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

There had been suggestions that the home nations would only put forward a single candidate on a rotation basis - Wales are next in line - but Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan revealed that it will put forward its own candidate.

Regan told Press Association Sport: "We in Scotland will put forward a candidate that will be considered for the position in 2015 and they will be given the chance to network across Europe ahead of the vote.

"We are simply following the process and if the UEFA members vote on that process tomorrow we will stick by rules."

At the moment the position is filled by Northern Ireland's Jim Boyce, following an informal agreement it would be rotated between the home nations after England's Geoff Thompson took the position in 2007.

Boyce has indicated he will be stepping down next year. Wales, who would have been next under the rotation agreement, have never had a FIFA vice-president.

There have been suggestions that David Gill, the former Manchester United chief executive who is currently a UEFA vice-president, may be put forward as England's candidate.

The British FIFA vice-presidency has been a privilege of the home nations since 1946 but it was threatened with abolition following the reforms of the world governing last year.

It was decided instead for the 54 UEFA countries to elect the British representative themselves rather than merely accept the nomination of the four home nations.